Reform UK now ‘rejecting’ Tory defectors following poll slump

Reform UK lost its ‘anti-Tory’ credentials earlier this year when it began accepting Tories into the party. Since then, Farage’s lot have seen a big dip in the polls, and the obvious conclusion is the Tory exodus didn’t help.

Now, it seems Reform has decided enough is enough. As GB Politics’ Charlie Simpson reported:

EXCLUSIVE: I have been told by a source in Reform HQ that the party has rejected three Conservative MPs from defecting.

When asked why they rejected the three Conservative MPs, my source said: “There are only 2 real conservatives left in the party. We don’t want to take any more of the same old ones — it could damage us badly in the local elections.”

The question is whether this is the end of Reform accepting Tories, or whether the party will get back to welcoming them in after the local elections.

Reform UK — Torygeddon

Reform knew the Tory exodus was causing problems straight away. It realised this because many of its activists began revolting.

🚨🇬🇧 WATCH: REFORM SUPPORTER TURNS ON FARAGE OVER EX-TORY PICKS

A Reform member has called in furious over the party’s latest appointments, making it clear he will not vote for any former Tory imposed on his constituency.

He is saying what many supporters are thinking. Reform… pic.twitter.com/KrrnHTSbVZ

— British Intel (@TheBritishIntel) January 13, 2026

In an attempt to limit the damage, Zia Yusuf said the following:

🚨 Huge announcement from Reform:

After May 7th 2026, Reform will accept NO MORE Tories.

That means MPs.

It means former MPs.

It means councillors.

Tick tock. 🕰️

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) January 17, 2026

It looks like Reform’s clock sped up at some point, because we’re three weeks away from 7 May, and they’ve already closed the floodgates.

So, what happened?

As Politico’s Poll of Polls shows, Reform have been on a downwards trajectory as of late:

Additionally, the month after Reform began Tory-maxxing its numbers, ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe launched his own party — Restore Britain. Positioning itself as a further-right alternative to Reform, Restore has acted as a magnet for the most anti-social elements of Farage’s movement.

There are signs Restore could have an impact on Reform’s polling, even though the party isn’t currently presented as an option with several pollsters. The big problem, though, is that Restore is attracting Reform defectors, making it harder for Farage’s party to attract and hold on to activists and politicians of their own:

Why Councillor Roger Tarrant, the deputy leader for Reform on Cornwall Council, has left Reform to join Restore Britain… pic.twitter.com/yE7GKrtCSD

— Restore Britain (@RestoreBritain_) April 22, 2026

When Roger Tarrant resigned, he said:

Restore Britain has emerged in response to Reform UK’s shift in direction and its selection of candidates. Many members have observed that corporate decisions have negatively impacted Reform UK in Cornwall by overlooking the county’s distinct political demographic and causing disengagement among members. Branches have been dismantled, and unelected interim officers appointed, leading to concerns about representation and effectiveness.

In other words, Farage wanted to turn Reform into the Conservative Party 2.0, and that imposition is going down poorly with the rank and file.

Problems all over

The defections haven’t just been bad for Reform. As we reported on 20 April, most of the Tory defector MPs are predicted to lose their seats to their old party in the next elections.

Polls aren’t premonitions, of course, but it still shows politicians who acted to save their careers may have done the opposite.

This situation will likely mean Tory MPs stop begging to be let in to Farage’s party. Farage might not be happy about that, because as bad as the Tories are, they’re not as catastrophically awful as the dregs of society Reform are finding elsewhere.

The following are just some of said candidates that we’ve reported on:

• Reform activist said ‘Hitler was right’.
• Reform candidate wants to ‘tear down’ the NHS.
• Reform candidate exposed as a horny nincompoop.
• Another Reform candidate has praised Enoch Powell.
• Video emerges of Reform’s ‘Nazi salute’ candidate drink driving.

This is where Reform find themselves — stuck between a Reich and a hard place.

Featured image via the Canary